Wilmington Island (Savannah: home, job market, quality of life)

[RiWrites]

Currently I am living in Florida and want to move somewhere else. I have been reading about how Wilmington Island is self contained and have a couple of questions. Are there places to get work on the island? And is it bicycle friendly and pedestrian friendly place? Right now I have a 45 minute drive to and from work. The job market is so bad here that finding a job closer is impossible I am so tired of being behind the wheel of a car. I would love to get rid of my car and just either walk, ride my bike, or take public transportation. This would save me a lot of money and I would be able to take a job I would love but didn't pay as much.

I am checking out other places but I would love to stay in the South. Thanks for any help.

[Just Plain Al]

Originally Posted by RiWrites

Currently I am living in Florida and want to move somewhere else. I have been reading about how Wilmington Island is self contained and have a couple of questions. Are there places to get work on the island? And is it bicycle friendly and pedestrian friendly place? Right now I have a 45 minute drive to and from work. The job market is so bad here that finding a job closer is impossible I am so tired of being behind the wheel of a car. I would love to get rid of my car and just either walk, ride my bike, or take public transportation. This would save me a lot of money and I would be able to take a job I would love but didn't pay as much.

I am checking out other places but I would love to stay in the South. Thanks for any help.

Mine, all mine...
This has got to be a set up by Ellie, or Padgett?

Wilmington Island...
Work?
What kinda work?
Wanna work in Ace hardware?
Wanna be a bartender?
Wanna work in a food/grocery store?
Wanna be a mechanic?
The whole Island is service oriented.
No industry.

Self contained?
Only thing we ain't got is Wal-Marte/Target/K-Marte.
And one bridge and you're there.

Ride your bike from one end to the other.
Walking will take a bit longer.

Public transportation?
You don't need it here.
Unless you wanna go downtown, or to the South Side.

People...
You got a mix.
Old money.
New money.
Folks like me that just rent.

I been here since 06.19.08.
And I ain't leaving until God votes me off the Island.

[Padgett2]

Al is correct, unless you have skills that would allow you to open up a professional office for something (doctor, lawyer, etc) just about all the jobs are serving the public in some manner.

You would need a car. You could bike all over the Island. But unless you worked out of doors, you would need a bath after riding to work in the hot summertime.

Your best job chances would be in Savannah. It really depends on what you do.

[gaflsc]

"The Island" is bike friendly....as long as you stay on the bike paths. We have a few Lance Armstrong wannabes here who insist on riding down the road (almost taking up a lane of traffic), when there's a perfectly good paved bike path just off the shoulder of the road (Penn Waller). Pet peeve of mine I suppose.

[Just Plain Al]

Originally Posted by gaflsc

"The Island" is bike friendly....as long as you stay on the bike paths. We have a few Lance Armstrong wannabes here who insist on riding down the road (almost taking up a lane of traffic), when there's a perfectly good paved bike path just off the shoulder of the road (Penn Waller). Pet peeve of mine I suppose.

And on Walthour as well as J.M.B.

[WanderingImport]

...and Wilmington Island Road. Man, I can't stand those guys... but in their defense, the paved bike baths are sometimes bumpy and littered with leaves, so not as good as the good ole blacktop road...just annoying to drivers and probably vice versa.

Wilmington Island is kind of like an "island suburbia" if you will. Good if you don't want to worry about the noises of the city, etc. I would definitely recommend driving to work since you will most likely be commuting if you lived on the island. A typical drive from Wilmington to downtown via the Islands' Expressway is roughly 20 minutes. Industries to the west of downtown such as the Georgia Ports Authority, Gulfstream or the airport will take you between 25-40 minutes. Major shopping centers such as our two malls on the southside of town will take you about 20-25 minutes and a trip to the beach, Tybee (pronounced Tie-BEE), will take you around 10 minutes, the closest location to Savannah's beach without actually living on Tybee.
Compared to your 45 minute commute, the average 25 minute commute here will cut your time in half. Hope you end up relocating here! Its a wonderful area! We're all more than happy to answer any more questions you might have.

[jojo0811]

I am so glad that someone asked the question about bicycles. We are about to locate to Savannah from Germany and (please no sarcastic comments) I have not driven in the US, when we lived in Fort Walton Beach FL I lived in an area there where you could ride a bike and be safe. We are hoping to live in the Wilmingtom Island area and Just Plain Al thanks for your comments about living there it sounds just what I am looking for.

[Just Plain Al]

Originally Posted by jojo0811

I am so glad that someone asked the question about bicycles. We are about to locate to Savannah from Germany and (please no sarcastic comments) I have not driven in the US, when we lived in Fort Walton Beach FL I lived in an area there where you could ride a bike and be safe. We are hoping to live in the Wilmingtom Island area and Just Plain Al thanks for your comments about living there it sounds just what I am looking for.

No sarcastic remarks from me.
My best friend down heah was born, and raised, in Germany.
Married a G.I.
Lived in Virginia for a while, and now she owns a very sucessful dog grooming parlor on Wilmlngton Island.
Hope to see you here soon.

De nada...

[jojo0811]

Just Plain Al to fill you in I'm from the UK met my husband there at the local USAF base then we were sent to FL. Got home sick and we ended up in Germany but its not for us (no offence meant to anyone) so after 3 + years we are finally getting out of there. We both hope that we will be ok in Savannah (and I'm sure we will be) and make new friends and find some kind of quality of life so to speak. Husband is retired military and will be working at Hunter AAF. If you have any info that would help on housing etc it would be appreciated.

[Just Plain Al]

Originally Posted by jojo0811

Just Plain Al to fill you in I'm from the UK met my husband there at the local USAF base then we were sent to FL. Got home sick and we ended up in Germany but its not for us (no offence meant to anyone) so after 3 + years we are finally getting out of there. We both hope that we will be ok in Savannah (and I'm sure we will be) and make new friends and find some kind of quality of life so to speak. Husband is retired military and will be working at Hunter AAF. If you have any info that would help on housing etc it would be appreciated.

I have another friend that lives around the corner from me.
He's stationed at Hunter.
Maybe I could put you in touch with them?

Drop me a line at...
justplain_al@yahoo.com